Pembroke Pines: Where Mayoral And City Commission Candidates Stand On The Issues

March 5, 2000

THE CANDIDATES

Mayor

ALEX G. FEKETE

Q. Where in the city budget would you increase and decrease spending?

We already operate within a conservative budget. For the past eight years, we have maintained the lowest millage rate of any full-service city in Broward County. Increased spending would be appropriate for roadway improvement projects. Beautification projects such as landscaping are also essential.Continue our efforts in education through our charter schools.

Q. What are your priorities if elected?

Continue working for road improvements to minimize congestion. Continue to encourage undeveloped land to be developed to meet the unmet needs of the city.

Q. What are some of the best and worst decisions made by city commissioners in recent years?

Best: Our involvement with the school system in enhancing education. Limiting the density of housing. Requiring road improvements before certificates of occupancy are issued. Worst: Approval of some land-use changes for commercial zoning. Not being able to increase the level of service on roads. Not establishing our own cable service.

PHIL McCONAGHEY

Q. Where in the city budget would you increase and decrease spending?

Start a fund to purchase vacant lands and leave them in their natural state or as passive parks. This would stop the growth of the traffic problem. Develop a mini-budget to compare departments' revenues/expenditures. Stop interdepartment borrowing, such as raiding the utility fund to finance other ventures.

Q. What are your priorities if elected?

Stop charging the fire protection special assessment and pay its costs through property taxes. The charter should be clarified by defining what the "annual operating budget" and "annual budget" are. Step up efforts to make the city's Web page interactive so the public can obtain minor repair permits, etc.

Q. What are some of the best and worst decisions made by city commissioners in recent years?

Best: Ignored Fekete's proposal to give all 48,000 residential units a free satellite dish. Ignored Fekete's idea to make 26 acres of wetlands at Pines Boulevard and U.S. 27 a cemetery. Worst: Adopting the fire-rescue special assessment. Purchasing for $5 million the 77-acre Academic Village, which was independently appraised at $4 million.

Commission seat

WILLIAM B. ARMSTRONG

Q. Where in the city budget would you increase and decrease spending?

Increases or decreases have been determined by the needs of a rapidly expanding community. We use in part a five-year projection, adjusted each year. This allows us to address a key factor, projected income, as well as the need for expansion of infrastructure, such as police, fire, parks and social services. Our charter school programs are monitored constantly as to cost and availability of funding.

Q. What are your priorities if elected?

Continue to establish the lowest tax rate possible, while continuing to provide maximum quality service demanded by our residents, including police, fire, social services, recreation and education. Continue to push for solutions to traffic problems, such as my effort to have Pembroke Road be a main artery, east and west, by constructing an overpass over Interstate 75. Make the sign ordinance even more restrictive.

Q. What are some of the best and worst decisions made by city commissioners in recent years?

Best: The city went ahead with a charter school program. This, to date, has proven to be more cost effective and is being operated at a better teacher/pupil ratio than the school administration's system. Worst: Failing to pass the state's additional homestead exemption plan for certain seniors in a timely fashion. The prolonged delay allowed the commission to be criticized. I urged my fellow commissioners to pass the plan.

DONALD "DON" SINCLAIR

Q. Where in the city budget would you increase and decrease spending?

Increase spending for transportation for senior citizens.

Q. What are your priorities if elected?

Rescind the fire protection special assessment and pay for the service through property taxes. Clarify the charter as to when newly elected officials take office. Enact term limits for elected officials. Create a citizens advisory committee of qualified people to advise the city manager on how to streamline city government to make it more efficient.

Q. What are some of the best and worst decisions made by city commissioners in recent years?

Best: Starting commission meetings at an earlier time is to everyone's benefit. Worst: Adoption of a fire-rescue special assessment. Also, allowing a former city employee, accused of sexual harassment, to retire with all his benefits instead of being discharged.